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Knitting a Symphony

The digital media arts center Harvestworks just announced that one of their 2008 Artists-In-Residence is developing a "knitting needle working symphony."

From their email:

"Laure Drogoul - networked interactive performance

A knitting needle working symphony. Approx 40 knitter-performers knit in unison creating a singular knit object-environment. The knitters needles will be equipped with mini pick-up microphones, and the knitters will be networked to send in these sounds via internet. The sound is then recorded, played and mixed in a live installation: a virtual knitting circle-score as immersive audio-video environment. Laure recently received the Janet and Walter Sondheim Prize."

More info on her work at Craftzine, the source of the above image.

My New Favorite Shirt

Threadless rocks.

Spiraling

Martian's got a brand new hat.

Pattern: Noro Hat by Saartje Knits
Yarn: 1 skein (142 yds) Brooks Farm Tierra Blend (not on their website, perhaps discontinued?), Rhinebeck 2007 (sale bin, woot!), Lambswool 70%/Alpaca 30%
Needles: Knitpicks Options size 9 (nickel), Magic Loop

Obviously the pattern is incredibly well-suited to Noro's stripey-ness but it's cute in a solid color too, especially since there's some subtle variation in the blue.

Mods: Cast on 65 stitches instead of the recommended 95, compensating for the larger gauge and smaller head.

The Jaywalkers, they be finished, too.

Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina
Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM), 2 skeins
Needle: US 2 / 2.75 mm Addis
Colorway: P319x, dye lot 188

Though I'm midway through a gift scarf and I promised the Martian a pair of socks, I'm taking a break for some me-knitting. I've been hankering for some flaming red Monkeys, and found the perfect yarn at Knitty City, some gorgeous, glowing Fleece Artist Merino Sock Yarn. It's far too dark in here to capture how luscious this stuff is, I'll have to shoot it when there's better light.

One Down

Vaarwel en dank voor al garen!

While I'm all aquiver with anticipation for Rhinebeck, I'm still unexpectedly gobsmacked by an all-too-short visit to the Netherlands. It was my first time and it was freakin' amazing (if about 40 degrees colder than New York.)

One of many, many canals.

One of many, many cups of coffee.

One of many, many bicycles.

I don't even own a bike anymore, but I know plenty of New Yorkers who bike on a regular basis. And lemme tell you, New York ain't got nothin' on the Netherlands when it comes to biking. I was too busy looking around to really capture it, but this photographer will give you some idea of the scope of bike culture in Amsterdam.

And — surprise! — there was yarn.

First stop was de Afstap in Amsterdam, a pleasant enough place but with mostly Rowan on the shelves, so no big surprises, unfortunately. But the proprietress was very nice, and I did pick up some sock yarn for gloves.

And for Martian socks.

At a cute little sewing store I found this awesome zipper-pull:

Then in the town where we were staying there was an even better yarn store, with a great selection of Dutch, German, and Italian yarn.

It was great to browse around and see what they had, but I wasn't moved to buy anything except a big, gorgeous, button (the big one on the right — the others were gifted by H's lovely mum, also a knitter.)

It also reminded me how much I love to travel; it's something that's been woefully lacking in my life for far too long. I want it back, dammit. One of the many changes that this year will bring, I think.

Morning dew on a spiderweb-bedecked bicycle.

And now...on to Rhinebeck!

Ice Cream Feet

When I first saw this yarn, it suddenly occured to me that Neapolitan ice cream was a perfect pallette for socks. Why had I never thought of this before?

It seems so obvious.

Yarn: Zitron Trekking (XXL)
Skeins: 1
Color: 126
Needles: Addi Turbos size 1, 32" (Magic Loop)

I cast on 64 and then knit knit knit all the way to the end, with a brief detour for a slip-stitch heel flap.

Finished them during the Special Features interviews for Ciao Manhattan!, a thoroughly depressing movie about (and starring) Edie Sedgwick in the last years of her life. Sienna Miller did a fine job channelling Edie in last year's Factory Girl, but it's something to see the real Edie, even if at this stage it was only a wavering, drug-addled shadow of the former Warhol superstar.

Crocheting Coral

So whaddaya do with fiber if you're just not that into the usual wearables?

Toys?  Meh.  Chicken helmets?  Old hat.  Cephalopods?  Not quite.

How about an entire coral reef? 

IFF co-director Margaret Wertheim's installation is described as "a woolly celebration of the intersection of higher geometry and feminine handicraft, and a testimony to the disappearing         wonders of the marine world."

"Woolly" might not be entirely accurate — I know there's at least some Fun Fur in there — but it's an amazing piece of work.   And it seems like it's still a work-in-progress; the website invites crocheters to  contribute models to the reef — contact information is at the very bottom of the reef page.

Currently in LA, it's coming to New York in April and will be on display through NYU in their storefront windows on Broadway & Washington Square.

Blocking Rules

Sure, it's a little tedious. The soaking. The stretching. The spritzing. But the feeling of mastery over your knitting? Whoo, that's priceless.

Pattern: One Skein Shawl from Knitter's Review
Yarn: 1 skein Elann Peruvian Baby Lace Merino, Color 2055 (Ruby)
Needles: Size 6 Denise Interchangeable circs

I opted for garter stitch rather than stockinette — other than that, I kept to the pattern, such as it was. Very simple, a really good introduction to basic shawl construction, and the result is something I'm definitely going to wear (the color in the top pic is much truer — it's a deep, rich red that didn't bleed at all in the pre-blocking soak.) And one skein yielded the perfect size shawl for me, small girl that I am.

I can't say how much I love this yarn - it was great to work with and amazingly soft. My only criticism would be that it had a tendency to knot, but even that was manageable. I've got another skein in black, and will try to improvise a more lacey pattern for that one.

On another design-related note, I saw this photo last night and have become well-nigh obsessed with the sweater's motifs.

That winsome dude's in Beirut, and I found the pic while cruising music blogs sometime in the PM. I wish he weren't wearing the dang jacket, but I think I can figure out the repeats if I need to. I've been trying to place the country where this might have originated, but I don't have the slightest clue. Is it Norwegian? Swedish? Latvian? Anyone out there who's familiar with folk motifs have any suggestions?

Why I Love New Jersey Transit

Love In Vein

Would you believe, another variation on the OSW?

As a knitter, I'm nothing if not consistent. I know what works for me. I know what I wear.

Variations this time: 3/4-length sleeves with a wavy cable pattern that resembles nothing so much as gigundo arm veins. Which I kinda already have. Why I didn't notice this until the second sleeve was finished, I have no idea.

Yarn was from School Products, a brandless blend of cotton and cashmere. Perhaps a mite too warm for right now, but it'll be just perfect come the cooler fall days.